AFS Screening: Ichi the Killer April 5, 2005

The Austin Film Society presents ICHI THE KILLER (Koroshiya 1)
2001, distributed by Media Blasters, screenplay by Sakichi Sato, cinematography by Hideo Yamamoto, 35mm, color, 129 min.
Cast: Tadanobu Asano, Nao Omori, Shinya Tsukamoto, Paulyn Sun

A childhood memory of rape and bullying allows bottom-feeding yakuza to create an unlikely assassin in the form of whimpering, terrified Ichi. Armed with steel-bladed boots, impeccable karate flourishes, and the implanted belief that each target is one of his bullies, Ichi slashes his way through opponents chosen by his controllers. Just a tool, Ichi is increasingly disgusted by his own acts, unlike the blond, self-lacerated Kakihara, an artistic sado-masochist capable of painstakingly slow tortures of others and himself. An inevitable confrontation with Ichi is Kakihara's most joyful dream.

Details at:
http://www.austinfilm.org/screenings/takashimiike.php#405
http://www.originalalamo.com/online_tix/show_details.asp?show_id=1093